NZ Agriculture Threatened by GE Animal Fodder

NZ Agriculture Threatened by GE Animal Fodder

The threat to New Zealand from the introduction of genetically engineered (GE) fodder crops is both economic and environmental, and demands the government intervenes to prevent it. Directly or indirectly our whole economy benefits from the protection of Brand New Zealand.

“It would be insane to permit the introduction of GE fodder crops to our agricultural system. Farmers and consumers at home and overseas are seeking a safe sustainable food supply and a guarantee they can buy GE Free produce.” said Claire Bleakley President of GE Free NZ in food and environment.
But without legislation to prohibit GE fodder crops, the government is leaving New Zealand at risk from lost exports, damage to our tourism image and damage to our agricultural industries from GE contamination and novel disease (1).

GM fodder crops can have no place in a country with an economy reliant on quality perceptions of our food system. A field trial of GE brassica was recently shut down after Crop / Plant and Food allowed plants to flower, but the GE fodder kale had also developed a stem rot disease not identified [1].
Beyond the Biosecurity threat, New Zealand's agricultural sector must not be undermined by the increased toxicity of GM fodder crops (2, 3, 4) that absorb higher quantities of Round-Up; or by animal sickness from GE feed containing insecticidal proteins; or by the extreme deformities and animal cruelty associated with GE technology and cloning.

“New Zealand research data on GM-animal survival rates indicates a more serious animal welfare issue far greater than chicken and pig husbandry which recently hit the headlines” said Ms Bleakley “Looking at traditional, transgenic and cloned animals, GE fodder crops pose the ability to create further serious problems in all types of animals and must not be grown”.
The Prime Minster and Government must take up the protection of the New Zealand Brand as their highest priority, and urgently develop a Biotechnology strategy (5) that addresses the billion-dollar conflict between our national identity and GE biotechnology that benefits consumers, farmers and our economy.

ENDS

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